Based in Frederick, Maryland, Digital Ink & Parchment is a blog by Alexandria Pallat. Her posts explore the integration of faith in every day life.

Dec 3 A Season of Hope

Do you celebrate advent?
All through my childhood, my parents would gift me with an advent calendar on December 1. I was always excited to open the little window and eat the little piece of chocolate as I eagerly counted down the days to December 25. I never really knew what "advent" meant, but I knew I loved the anticipation of Christmas Day.

Why? Because the Christmas season is a time of hope. If you're a child, you eagerly await Christmas Day to see the magical appearance of presents that may not have been there the night before, hoping you got that gift you asked Santa for. If you're an adult, parent or not, you eagerly give others presents, hoping they like the gift.

And if you've ever faced a heart-breaking disappointment, you hope for relief...and maybe a miracle.

I wish I could tell you I got the Christmas miracle I begged God for last year, but I didn't. I wish I could tell you that this year doesn't ache, but I can't. It doesn't hurt as much, but the hurt hasn't entirely gone away. I wish I could tell you that I'm not still walking through the difficulty, but I can't.

I wish I could tell you my childlike joy never faded, but it did.

But the great thing about the Christmas season is that it's never too late to get that joy back. And that is why I am going to be working to celebrate this season and read the story of Christ, through the book of Luke. I encourage you to join me.

If you're curious about what hoping and waiting on Jesus means, if you're struggling to find even simple happiness this season, or even if you just want to read along to see what's going on, I welcome you.